“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.“—John 6:35, NIV
At the end of World War II, hungry and malnourished orphans were gathered and placed in secure camps. Despite the best of attention and care, they were anxious, afraid, and had trouble sleeping. Finally, a psychologist found a solution.
After a good meal, a caregiver put each child to bed with a slice of bread. Just to hold, not to eat. The children went to bed holding onto the assurance that they would have food for the next day. The children began to sleep restfully, feeling safe, and secure. The bread gave them hope.
When Jesus said, “I am the bread of life,” He was not coining a poetic phrase. Jesus had just fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread, providing for their physical needs.
But Jesus wants us to see beyond the physical need to our spiritual need for sustenance. We need to be fed, and Jesus offers Himself as the Sustainer of life.
The Bread of Life, Jesus, gives us hope for the future. Knowing that we can hold on to Him during the dark nights of our lives and that He will be with us when we wake in the morning and will feed, nourish, and nurture us, is what will enable us to carry on.
